Bottle lifter and carrier



y 9, 1956 L. A. MAPES 2,747,915

BOTTLE LIFTER AND CARRIER Original Filed June 26, 1951 94 92 55 97 w 1/? 97 f5 1 I I ,1 .INVENTOR F Leslie A.Mape.s

United States Patent BOTTLE LIFTER AND CARRIER Leslie A. Mapes, Palisade, N. J.

Original application June 26, 1951, Serial No. 233,611. Divided and this application July 10, 1953, Serial No. 367,211

2 Claims. (Cl. 294--87.24)

This invention relates to a bottle lifter and carrier, and more particularly to a milk bottle lifter and carrier for facilitating the placement of filled and capped milk bottles in cases, crates or boxes containing a plurality, usually 12, of bottles in upright position. This application is a division of application Serial No. 233,611, filed June 26, 1951.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a bottle lifter and carrier which in use minimizes breakage of glass bottles, facilitates the placing of the bottles in cases, each containing a multiplicity of bottles, usually 12, which readily engages and securely holds a predetermined group of such bottles, for example, six quart bottles or a larger number of smaller bottles, and Which in use results in a saving of labor and also time, i. e., speeds up the operation of placing the bottles in the cases.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred embodiment of this invention without limiting the claimed invention to this embodiment,

Figure l is a top plan view of the special lifter mechanism for lifting a grouping or pattern of bottles;

Figure 2 is an inverted or underside plan view of the lifting mechanism of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken in a plane passing through line 3-3 on Figure 1.

The bottle lifter and carrier mechanism of this invention comprises a flat substantially rectangular plate 85 on the top of which supporting brackets 86, 87 are mounted in spaced relation. Fixed in these brackets are rods 88 and 89. Scissors-like links 91, 92; 93, 94; 95, 96; and 97, 98 extend through suitable openings in the plate 85. Links 91, 92 are pivoted on rod 89 at one end thereof and links 95, 96 are pivoted on this rod near the opposite end thereof, as clearly shown in Figure l. Links 93, 94 are pivoted on rod 88 near one end thereof and links 97, 98 are pivoted on this rod near the opposite end thereof. A bar 99 connects the upper ends of links 91 and 93 for simultaneous movement of these two links. This bar 99 may be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the upper ends of the links 91 and 93. In like manner, a bar 100 connects the upper ends of links 92 and 94 for simultaneous movement of both links about their pivots on rods 89 and 88. Similarly, a bar 101 connects the upper ends of links 95, 97 and a bar 102 connects the upper ends of links 96 and 98.

A handle 103 is suitably secured as by bolts 103' to the upper ends of links 91 and 95. This handle extends in a general longitudinal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate 85. A similar handle 104 is oppositely disposed to handle 103 and is connected, as, for example, by bolts 105 to the upper ends of links 94 and 98. The handles 103 and 104 are spaced apart a distance such that they can both be grasped by one hand and moved towards each other.

A coil spring 105 has one end secured to rod 88 and the other end to bar 100. A second coil spring 106 extends from the rod 89 to the bar 101. When the handles 103 and 104 are grasped and moved towards each other these springs and 106 are placed under increased tension and function to restore the parts to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and in full lines in Figure 3 upon release of the pressure on the handles 103, 104.

Secured to the lower end of the links 92 and 96 is a clamp 107. A' similar clamp 108 is secured to the lower ends of links 91, 95. A clamp 109 is suitably secured to the lower ends of links 94 and 98 and a clamp to the lower ends of links 93, 97. Each of these clamps as best shown in Figure 2 comprises alternate curved portions 111 designed to engage the neck of a bottle and intermediate linear or straight connecting portions 112.

Clamps 107 and 108 cooperate with each other to firmly engage and hold the necks of three bottles. In like manner clamps 109 and 110 cooperate with each other to firmly engage and hold the necks of three bottles.

Both clamps 108 and 110 through the links 95 and 97 connected by bar 101 and links 91 and 93 connected by bar 99 move in unison (viewing Figure 1) to the left. The other two clamps 107 and 109 move in unison to the right, viewing Figure 1, through the links 96 and 98 connected by bar 102 and links 92 and 94 connected by bar 100.

As best shown in Figure 3, the links 91 to 98, inclusive, extend below the plate 85 a distance such that when the plate is in contact with the top of the bottles, the clamps 107 to 110, inclusive, carried by these links are properly positioned to engage the necks of the bottles below the lips which are of somewhat greater external diameter than the necks.

While in the drawing there is shown a bottle lifter and carrier for engaging and firmly holding six bottles, it will be understood the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Clamps 107 to 110, inclusive, it will be apparent can be shaped to engage any desired number of bottles. The bottle litter and carrier for handling six bottles has been found most efficient for the manipulation of quart bottles. The bottle litter and carrier, in use, is placed on the top of a grouping of the bottles to be handled thereby; this automatically positions the clamps 107 to 110 so that the curved portions 111 are opposite the necks of these bottles. The operator then clenches his hands thus moving handles 103 and 104 towards each other. This movement through the linkage hereinabove described causes the clamps 107 to 110, inclusive, to firmly grip the six bottles. As noted, a bottle lifter and carrier for handling six quart bottles has been found most convenient and eilicient for most operators. In the case of pint bottles, the clamps 107 to 110 may be shaped to grasp the necks of say 8 or even 12 bottles.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A bottle lifter comprising, adapted to engage the tops of a plurality of bottles, pairs of scissors-like levers mounted for pivotal movement on and extending through said plate with the lower end-s of said levers below said plate and the upper ends above said plate, clamps having bottle-neck engaging portions secured to said lower ends of said scissors-like levers, said lower ends being so positioned relative to said plate that the clamps carried thereby are disposed to engage the necks of the bottles when the plate rests on the tops of said bottles, and a handle fastened to the upper ends of each pair of said scissors-like levers to move them in unison,

in combination, a plate said handles being so positioned that when both of said handles are grasped by the hand of the operator and the hand clenched the handles are moved towards each other to actuate said scissors-like levers to move said clamps towards each other and firmly engage the necks of said bottles.

2. A bottle litter comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular plate adapted to engage the top of a group of bottles, a pair of bearing supports. mounted on the top of said plate near the opposite ends thereof, rods extending in a generally longitudinal direction mounted in said bearing supports near the opposite sides of said plate, a pair of scissors-like levers pivotally mounted on said rods near each of the four corners of said plate and having the lower ends of said levers extending below said plate and the upper ends of said levers extending above said plate, arms connecting the upper ends of oppositely disposed levers for movement of said levers in unison with four levers moving in one direction and the other four in the opposite direction, clamps secured to the lower ends of. the scissors-like levers, said lower ends extending a distance below the plate such that the clamps carried thereby engage the necks of the bottles when the plate is in contact with the tops of the bottles, and a pair of handles secured to the upper ends of said scissors-like levers to move them in unison, said handles being so positioned that when engaged by the hand of the operator and the hand is clenched, said oppositely disposed levers are moved to cause said clamps to move towards each other to firmly engage the necks of said bottles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,017,432 Lindahl Feb. 13, 1912 1,918,486 Onos July 18, 1933 2,138,498 McMillan Nov. 29, 1938 2,592,017 Engstrom Apr. 8, 1952 2,611,493 Nordqui'st Sept. 23, 1952 

